Physical Therapy with or without pain medication?

I agree completely before physical therapy I do two Medicaid or if I don't I definitely medicate after

I didn't take any pain medication before or after PT for years. Didn't have anything to take, unfortunately. The last couple times I told my PCP that if I didn't have something to take for the pain, I wouldn't be able to do it, and she gave me low dose tramadol. I would take a half before PT, and then the other half that night.

I no longer do PT. I do yoga and other exercise classes online with Silver Sneakers and YMCA360. Helps me more than any PT ever did. Helps my mind and spirit, too.

There's a beautiful Seated Yoga for Pain Relief on the Silver Sneakers YouTube channel. Only 15 minutes, very gentle, very helpful, especially on a bad day. Here's the link to it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=soghFlLS4-s

Thank you, @cookierockwell, very nice routine. I think I'll try to do it everyday. I do Dr. Loren Fishman's "12 Poses vs Osteoporosis", also on YouTube, everyday to improve bone density.

If you are clenching in pain you aren’t focused in your efforts to strengthen whatever you are supposed to be working on! The meds are your there to help you do your job! 40 surgeries! I can attest to that!

Pain is the bodies barometer meaning if you mask pain there's no way to tell if you are over doing your treatment. Only after pain meds disapate do you realize you've overdone then it's too late.

My therapist recommended pain meds 1 hour before PT. I took it once and then a thought came into my head that said the same thing. "Pain is the bodies barometer".

I told the therapist no. I asked if we could go slower and have therapy go longer. She worked with me with amazing results!

Only thing was when insurance ran out, I had to self pay. It was costly, but it's what I felt was the right thing for me. Therapy was 8 months.

Glad you had a favorable outcome. Somehow along the way Dr's have forgotten they work for us. What they say is mearly suggestions or advice not Holy word. The cookie cutter turn around in exam rooms now makes for mistakes and misdiagnoses. Myself I fired 9 Dr's in one day it's my body my life my health. I'm suffering now from a misdiagnosis that's life threatening I dropped my guard. Never coast meaning if you cut them slack you pay the price, I am.

You are very wise to fire doctors that you feel are not giving you the level care you deserve. I think it's so important to think of our health first and foremost.

Don't give up. Keep letting yourself be head. Never stop asking questions.

Good luck.